In the same month that we lost a record number of American soldiers and Iraqi citizens lost many more, Vice President Dick Cheney told Rush Limbaugh that "if you look at the overall situation they're doing remarkably well."

Now we know that the Darth was speaking about Halliburton.

This week the Halliburton's third-quarter net income rose 22 percent with third-quarter revenue rising 19 percent to $5.8 billion.

But even more indecent was that the VP's talking point was dittoed by Halliburton officials.

"Iraq was better than expected," said Jeff Tillery, analyst (who does research for Halliburton) at Pickering Energy Partners Inc. "Overall, there is nothing really to question or be skeptical about. I think the results are very good."

"Overall, there is nothing to question or be skeptical about." Dost that not soar far off the puke-ability chart?

More than glaring is that both Cheney and Tillery both believe that the "overall" situation in Iraq has not to do with American soldiers dying or Iraqi citizens losing everything or civil war exploding, but with profit..."overall."

Still think Cheney is not deeply connected with Halliburton?

"This was an exceptional quarter for Halliburton," said Dave Lesar, Halliburton's chairman, president and CEO.

Do we need any more proof that, "overall," what's good for Halliburton is, overall, bad for the rest of us?

And you thought Dick Cheney was kidding when he said, "We also have to work, though, sort of the dark side, if you will."

Or is that Halliburton's company policy.

Steve Young is author of "Great Failures of the Extremely Successful." www.greatfailure.com